EA comes to town

1/26/2009

Brian Lucas (Assistant Director of Athletic Communications)

Tuesday night the Kohl Center welcomes one of its favorite guests. No, not Matt Painter and the Purdue Boilermakers. I’m talking about ESPN’s Erin Andrews.

Erin has been a regular in Madison for a number of years now, making numerous appearances each year during the college basketball season, usually as the sideline reporter for the announcing team of Brent Musburger and Steve Lavin. That trio will call tomorrow night’s game, starting at 8 p.m. CT for ESPN.

Erin has been a part of many memorable moments in Madison and at the Kohl Center, usually hijinks with her partners. Who will forget the time the trio went ice fishing with Greg Stiemsma, Joe Krabbenhoft and assistant coach Greg Gard.

There was also this classic exchange where the trio discussed the Madison nightlife, including a free plug for the Nitty Gritty (that’s my shoulder in the frame when they cut to Erin).

The classic “Erin Andrews” student section chant was broken down in the second half of last year’s Badger tilt vs. Illinois.

While not paired with Lavin and Musburger, Erin was on hand for one of the most thrilling games in Kohl Center history when Kammron Taylor hit a 3-pointer in the final seconds to propel UW to a Senior Day win over Michigan State in 2007.

And, of course, I will never forget and will always be grateful to Erin for being single-handedly responsible for the most popular (in terms of hits) Badger Basketball Game Day Blog of last season, our home game against Indiana. Thanks to her, we got a shout out in SI.com’s “Hot Clicks.” (maybe you can hook us up again, guys)

Enough of the plugs, here’s a little questionnaire that Erin was nice enough to fill out for us so you can get a better idea of her personality. If I can pin Brent and Lav down tomorrow maybe I’ll have some follow up from them.

1. What’s your hometown? Tampa, Florida 2. Where did you go to college? University of Florida3. Sports you played in high school or college? I was a dancer4. Your favorite thing about college basketball? The dance teams halftime routines…(I appreciate the effort they give when they think no one is watching! I’ve been there!!)…And of course, I also love the atmosphere…5. First job you ever had? Sales clerk at Banana Republic6. What’s in your iPod? Everything from pop, hip hop, country, metal, to the oldies7. Most memorable game you’ve covered: Virginia Tech’s first football game after their campus tragedy 8. Another sportscaster / reporter that you admire: My dad, Steve Andrews9. Your favorite vacation spot: Anywhere with sun, a lounge chair, the water, and no camera phones!10. Someone you’d like to interview (sports or non-sports): Nancy Grace11. An athlete you’d pay to watch: Brett Favre12. A good book you’d recommend: The Five People You Meet in Heaven13. Your favorite movie: Dances With Wolves14. Your most prized possession: My family15. A quote or motto that you like: Rule number one, never leave a fellow crasher behind16. Interests outside of work: Working out, Reading, Spending time with my family17. Something you’ve always wanted to do: Tell my parents they can retire, because I’m going to take care of them.18. Favorite food: Italian and Mexican19. A job you’d like to have other than the one you have: Giving assistance and guide dogs to people in need20. Title of your autobiography: “You’re going to need to sit down for this…”